Sunday, December 30, 2012

Belated Christmas Post

So in the States it seems that Thanksgiving to Christmas is the main Christmas season.  But here, with no Thanksgiving celebration, Christmas Eve through New Years (and a few days past, I've heard) is the main Christmas season.  And my family seems to be following suit.  There wasn't much of a ramp up to Christmas this year until Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve we had a wonderful dinner with friends from Haiti Health Ministries.  Great food and great fellowship.  Then as a family we watched Home Alone - a Christmas classic.  Christmas morning we opened gifts.  Luke got my used ipad, the girl's each got one Haitian - made American Girl bed and a wardrobe for their dolls to share.
My mom flew in early evening on Christmas Day and since her arrival we've been playing a lot of Caring and Sharing Bingo (a family game) and introducing my mom to our many friends here.  Yesterday my mom and I walked a Haitian mile to Madanm Christians orphanage.  The children were excited to meet my mother and put on a great (and extremely long) Christmas program for us.  Here is a wee clip.



Teresa's family flew in yesterday and today my mom was reunited with all 5+ of her grandchildren.  Oh Happy Day!  Then, I've heard there is some fun New Years celebrations.  We shall see.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Eloise the Poet

Eloise has been writing quite a bit since we've gotten to Haiti.  We find her journals all over the house.  Last night Chris and I discovered this poem she wrote and that it was worth sharing.

he doesn't like you
she doesn't like me
evry time you look at him you get angry
evry time I look at her I get angery
this song dosen't have a happy ending rite now
so let's make this a song that has one
folloe your dream's and desstenies
come and let's see the thing's alaround you and me
then you can make lot's of friend's
and do thing's that youve neve don before
this song is coming to a end 
I have to say good bye
oh, make freind's with . . . he and she and I

By: ELOISE Thmpson

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Treehouse

Last week over 500 volunteers with Habitat for Humanity were here in Haiti.  They came with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter as well as Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood.  We got to enjoy a lovely (yet a bit extravagant) dinner of sea bass and real veggies in an air conditioned dining hall.  Then we got to listen to the Garth Brooks concert as well.  It was quite refreshing.

When Habitat departed they were encouraged to leave their tools and extra supplies with Christianville, where my sister lives.  Uncle Ryan took all the kids "shopping" at the Habitat leftover "store".  My kids were thrilled to actually shop and "shop for free even" as Eloise said.  They picked out hard hats, hammers, tape measures, rope, and more.  The experience got them all geared up to build something.  After much planning they decided they wanted a treehouse.  So we started it yesterday and got quite a bit further today.  Hoping to finish this weekend.


Chris sawing plywood with a hand saw.


The girls testing out the support system!